Rotary hydraulic actuator comprising a one-piece unitary body and mounting end portion



Aug. 3, 1965 A. G. FRENCH 3,198,090

ROTARY HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR COMPRISING A ONE-PIECE UNITARY BODY ANDMOUNTING END PORTION Filed Oct. 22, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR..Q/fred G. Franc/7 BY w aw I ATORNEYS Aug. 3, 1965 A. G. FRENCH3,198,090 ROTARY HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR COMPRISING A ONE-PIECE UNITARY BODYAND MOUNTING END PORTION Filed Oct. 22, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H] H Q &\J N M Q X N N i II INVENTOR. fl/fre c/ 6. French AT RNEYS United StatesPatent 3,198,0fi0 ROTARY HYDRAULIC ACTUATGR CQMPRXSHNG A'UNE-PIEQEEUNHTARY BGDY AND MOUNTING END PORTEGN Alfred G. French, Wiiliamsvilie,N.Y., assignor to Houdaille industries, Inc, Bufialo, N.Y., acorporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 231,986 4 Claims.(Cl. 92-121) The present invention relates to improvements in rotaryhydraulic actuators and more particularly concerns new and improvedhousing construction for hydraulic rotary actuators.

Heretofore, hydraulic rotary actuators have been constructed withhousings consisting of a ring shaped body and separate end membersattached to the body and defining therewith a hydraulic operatingchamber within which the customary abutment and wing shaft vanestructure are located for hydraulic actuation of the wing shaft which isattached to the component of associated apparatus to be motivated by theactuator. In such prior rotary actuators, the end which is mounted on orattached to the mounting structure of the associated apparatus orequipment and the actuator body tend to move relatively due to the manysudden reversals in rotation and the resultant torque strains to whichthe device is subjected in use. Although double vane actuators areliable to such undesirable relative movement of the housing and endmember, single vane actuators are particularly liable to such relativemovement due to the internal hydraulic unbalance existing in theoperation of this type of actuator.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved rotary hydraulic actuator provided with a housing which isparticularly applicable for uses where sudden reversals in rotation tendto cause movement between assembled housing parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel hydraulic rotaryactuator including a housing of the end or face mount type wherein themounting end and body are constructed in one integral piece so as toavoid any possibility of relative movement or displacement of the bodyand end portions.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a new and improved rotaryactuator having a housing especially suitable for single vane actuatorswhich have an internal hydraulic unbalance and thus are particularlysusceptible to shifting between the ends and body of the housing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide substantialimprovements in hydraulic rotary actuators adapted for heavy duty usage.

It is also an object of the invention to reduce the number of partsrequired for rotary actuators and thus substantially lowering theproduction costs and inventory of parts.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedhydraulic rotary actuator having a housing construction which avoids theneed for special mountingplates or adapters.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will 'bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredexemplary embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational sectional view of a rotary hydraulicactuator embodying features of the invention, taken substantially on theline II of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially onthe line llII of FlGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional detail view taken substantially onthe line IiL-ill of FIGURE 1; and

"ice

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view of theencircled portion IV of FIGURE 3.

Hydraulic rotary actuators of the type illustrated are useful in theoperation of equipment such as earth moving machinery, heavy dutysteering apparatus,.and other uses where oscillatory rotary drivingforce is utilized. It includes a wing shaft 5 having a radial wing orvane 7 oscillatable between opposite sides of an abutment 8 within aworking chamber 9 in a housing 19. Hydraulic fluid for actuating thewing shaft 5 through oscillations of the vane 7 is introduced atopposite sides of the abutment 8 selectively, and alternativelyexhausted, through suitable hydraulic passages 11 which are adapted tobe connected in the usual manner to an operating hydraulic system of theequipment with which the actuator is associated.

According to the present invention, the actuator housing comprises justtwo principal components, namely, a combined body and face mount endmember 12 and a closure cap end member 13. To this end, the member 12comprises a generally cup-shaped casting having an end face portion 14and at least internally cylindrical body flange 15 defining theoperating chamber 9 within the cavity of the member. In addition, themember 12 includes means, herein in the form of a pair of mountingflange cars 17 attached integrally in one piece to the end face portion14 through an endwise base projection 18 and adapted to be securedthrough the medium of screws or bolts to a supporting structure 20(FIGURE 3) of apparatus with which the actuator is associated inservice.

For operative attachment to that movable part of the associatedequipment to be motivated, an end portion of the wing shaft 5 projectsexternally of the end portion 14 of the housing and through a clearanceaperture 21 in the mounting structure 20 and a registering clearancerecess 22in the mounting base 18. To journal the projecting end portion,an elongated hub 23 is provided on the end portion 14 with a suitablebearing 24 mounted therein and engaging the wing shaft. Between thebearing and the router extremity of the hub 23 a hydraulic sealing ring25 sealingly encircles the wing shaft and is mounted in a sealing ringgroove 27 of substantial width, thereby assuring satisfactory protectionagainst leakage past the wing shaft. It will be observed that this isthe only seal that need be provided at the mounting end of the housing10 since the end portion 14 and the body flange portion 15 are ofunitized construction. Furthermore, the elongated journal for the wingshaft 5 provided by the hub 23 assures maximum resistance to eccentricor bending strains that may be imposed on the Wing shaft 5.

Means are provided for securing the end cap member 13 to the housingflange 15 in a manner substantially to preclude transverse relativedisplacement. For this purpose, a flange and groove joint is providedwherein the open end of the housing body flange 15 has a rabbet 28within which an axially projecting annular complementary marginal flange29 on the cap member 13 is firmly seated and maintained by means ofscrews 30 and dowels 31. A hydraulic seal, suitably comprising an O-ring32, in the joint between the cap member and the engaged end of thehousing flange 15, preferably operatively engaging within the reentrantangle formed by the cap flange 29, seals this joint against leakage ofhydraulic fluid from within the working chamber 9.

Although for some purposes it may not be necessary to journal the wingshaft 5 in the cap member 13, so that the end cap will serve merely asan end thrust bearing for the wing head of the wing-shaft, a desirablejournalled relationship for a journal portion 33 of the wing shaft maybe provided by a' centralhollow hub 34 on the end member carrying asuitable bearing 35 encircling the wing shaft portion 33. Sealing meanssuch as an O-ring seal 37 are suitably provided at the inner end of thejournal bore through the hub end of the wing shaft head.

Anchorage of the abutment 8,within the working chambfil' 9 is suitablyeffected by means of dowels 38. In

especially sturdy construction, the dowels 38 extend longitudinallyentirely through the abutment 8' and at one end into sockets 39 providedtherefor; in the inner face of the end cap 13 and at theother end intoaligned sockets 40 provided in the confrontingworking chamber'face ofthe housing end portion 14. Through this arrangement, 10

not only is the abutment 8 thoroughly retained against displacementunder the .hydraulicpressures developed in the working chamber 9 but theconnecting dowel-s 38 supplement the attachment bolts 30 and the dowels31 in retaining the cap '13 against any tendencies toward torquedisplacement in service.

Although the illustrated example of hydraulic rotary ac tuator has onlya single actuating vane and abutment arrangement, it" will be readilyapparent that the same' principles of cdnstruction insofar as thehousing structure is concerned are'applicable to a multi-vanearrangement.

It will be clear that the single piece unitary construction of the 'bodyand face mounting end of the housing member 12 preclude any possibilityof relative displa'cei i:

ment of these portions of the housing. Since the mount ing lug ears 17are integrally in one unitized piece with the housing member 12, thereis no possibility of relative displacement of these parts of'the housingwith respect to other'parts of the housing member 12. Thus, actuatorlife is increasedas compared to housings having separate body andmounting face member's, since misalignmentjof parts is substantiallyeliminated. Another advantage'resides in that the need-for a sealbetween thebody'portion and the mounting end portion of the housingmember 12 is entirely eliminated since they are; in integralone piecerelationship; No fasteners are required: between the mounting endportion 14 and the housing portion 15. Be-

' cause of the unitized construction, production costs and invent-oryaresubstantially reduced; Further, since the body portion 15 and themountin-gend member -14 .andit's' hub 23 are all unitized, substantialmutual resistance to bending strains on the bearing '24- are affordedbythe housing portion 15; and'in addition by the end cap member 13 whichisheld positively against any transverse displacement and is quitethoroughly secured against-torque displacements. i 5

It will be understood that modificationsand variations may be effectedwithout'departing from the' scope' of the novel concepts-of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention: 7 7 r 1. In a rotary hydraulieactuatorincluding a wing shaft and a housing having means therein forhydraulically actuating the wingshaft oscillatably, said housingcomprising: r Y

' a generally cup-shaped'one-piece unitary body mounting end portiondefining a working chamber with an openend opposite said end portion, aclosure cap secured over the open end of the body, said end portionhaving a unitary'base for engagement with a supporting structure ofequipment with which the actuator is associated, V o said base having acentral axially opening recess afiording clearance about a projectingend portion of the wing shaft and adapted to-register with. a clearanceopening in saidsupporting structure.

2. In a rotary hydraulic actuator in l ding a shaft and a housing havingmeans thereinfor hydraulically V actuating the wing shaft oscillatably,said housing com.-

prising:

a generally cup-shaped one-piece unitary body ;and

mounting end portion definingv therein a hydraulic] Working chamberhaving .an openend, I .7

and a closure cap member secured to the open end of the body; r

an abutment'member in said chamber, 7

V and' dowel pins extending entirely through the abutment and securedat. their opposite ends into blind endsockets provided inalignment intheopposing facesof the end .portion and said closure cap member.

3. ha rotary hydraulic actuator including a wing shaft and a housinghaving ,means therein for hydrauliclly actuating the wing shaftoscillatably, said housing comprismg: a v

a generally cup-shaped one-piece unitary body and mounting endportion,

said end portion having'means for journalling a projecting portion ofthe wing shaft therethrough for attachment to. apparatus to be'motivatedby the actuator,

said unitary body having an open end opposite .said end-portion, aclosure cap member secured' to the "openendofthebody, r t

. and an elongated hub andbase projection on said end portion throughwhich the winglshaft is' journalled, said'projection'haying asubstantial clearance recess about said. projecting portion of the wingshaft and opening-axially for registration with a clearance opening'in asupporting member.v 1

o 4. In a rotary hydraulic actuator including awing shaft "and a housinghaving means therein for hydraulically ac- 30 tuating the wing shaftoscillatably, said housing comprismg: 1 n n a generally cup-shapedone-piece unitary body and mounting end portion defining therein ahydraulic working chamber open at one end and having means on said body'at said one end for attachment of a closure member, V

a closure cap member secured to the open one end,

an'abutment meniber'in said chamber,

a" plurality of dowel pins extending entirely through the abutmentmember and secured at their opposite ends into blind end socketsprovided, in alignment in .the

V opposingfaces of theend portion and said closure cap. member, 1

said end portion having means for journaling a projecting portion of thewing shaft therethrough for attachment to apparatus to be motivated bythe actuator, I 1

an elongated hub and base projection on said end portion through whichthe wing shaft "is journaled,

an attachment ear flange means laterally integrally extending from theextremityof said base projection,

and r said base -"projection. having a substantial clearance recessabout said projecting portionof the wing shaft and opening axially forregistration with a clearance opening in a supporting member.

References. Cited by the Enaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/09 Stowell121--97 1/15 Bergesen 12197 8/33 Tilly 12197 2/37 Sandb'erg 121--97 5/44Parker .12197 4/60 Shafer. 12l99 2/62 Rumsey 92-425 8/63 Robins 9216119/ 63 Rums ey et al. 92-'l25 0 FRED E.' ENGELTHALER, Primary Extz minerKARL]. ALBRECHT, Examiner. V

1. IN A ROTARY HYDRAULIC AUTUATOR INCLUDING A WING SHAFT AND A HOUSINGHAVING MEANS THEREIN FOR HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATING THE WING SHAFTOSCILLATABLY, SAID HOUSING COMPRISING: A GENERALLY CUP-SHAPED ONE-PIECEUNITARY BODY AND MOUNTING END PORTION DEFINING A WORKING CHAMBER WITH ANOPEN END OPPOSITE SAID END PORTION, A CLOSURE CAP SECURED OVER THE OPEREND OF THE BODY, SAID END PORTION HAVING A UNITARY BASE FOR ENGAGEMENTWITH A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE OF EQUIPMENT WITH WHICH THE ACTUATOR ISASSOCIATED, SAID BASE HAVING A CENTRAL AXIALLY OPENING RECESS AFFORDINCLEARANCE ABOUT A PROJECTING END PORTION OF THE WING SHAFT AND ADAPTEDTO REGISTER WITH A CLEARANCE OPENING IN SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE.